Crime
Dark Winds
AMC+ brings to life a murder-mystery series set in New Mexico, steeped in Navajo ways and filled with dark magic.
Lola Carmichael has been working hard and paying her dues as a lawyer in the District Attorney’s office for years just to hear these words: “All rise for the honorable Judge Carmichael.” Well, that and to get a private bathroom in her personal chambers.
But the hard work doesn’t stop now that she’s on top. Turns out that being a judge isn’t just about putting bad guys away. Upholding the Constitution involves giving people dignity, looking at the evidence presented and making fair rulings based on facts, not personal biases.
That doesn’t stop Lola from inserting herself into cases that hold a personal interest for her, though. If she feels like a case—even if it’s being presided over by another judge—is steering away from the strict confines of the law, she’ll do her best to get it back on track. Undaunted by prominent political figures, powerful attorneys or public backlash, Lola is determined to see that justice is served regardless of race, gender or social status.
While Lola’s predisposition to seek out controversial cases brings plenty of drama to the courtroom, it also brings up several concerns that viewers should be aware of. Alt-right extremists and people who would describe themselves as “non-binary” sometimes find their way into Lola’s courtroom, and sexual identity and preference is a frequent subject, particularly since a recurring character is bisexual.
Language is infrequent, but there are occasional uses of “h—” and “d–n,” and taking God’s name in vain also isn’t unheard of. And while nobody removes their clothes on screen, Lola and her colleagues have no problem talking about their extracurricular activities outside the courthouse.
This legal drama attempts to approach hot topics from a neutral mindset, focusing on what the law says rather than what people think. And it mostly succeeds at that. Unfortunately, the lives of the judges, prosecutors and public defenders who partake in these proceedings are so messy that it’s a wonder they can clean up the streets of Los Angeles.
Lola feels pressured to rule favorably in a case involving a Congresswoman’s son. A lawyer from the D.A.’s office tries to have a racially prejudiced doctor charged with murder.
After spending the previous night together, a couple hugs and flirts. Later they kiss and discuss their plans to spend the night together again. A woman kisses a man on his cheek. Someone talks about kissing in public. A woman wears a dress with cleavage. Another woman is seen running in the background wearing yoga pants and a sports bra. A man is seen riding a bike shirtless.
A man’s father is in jail on a murder charge, but the father claims to have arrived on the scene after the murder had taken place. A widower with a newborn son weeps as he describes his wife’s death and how the doctor willfully ignored her complaints.
A man stands trial after sabotaging valves at an oil refinery with a blowtorch, claiming that the refinery was poisoning people in the surrounding community. A congresswoman uses her political power to illegally gain access to the judge presiding over her son’s case. She also admits to lying to her son and her constituency about her bipolar disorder for fear of how people would treat her.
“P-ss” and “d–n” are each heard. Someone is arrested after lying under oath. People drink in a bar.
Emily studied film and writing when she was in college. And when she isn’t being way too competitive while playing board games, she enjoys food, sleep, and geeking out with her husband indulging in their “nerdoms,” which is the collective fan cultures of everything they love, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate and Lord of the Rings.
AMC+ brings to life a murder-mystery series set in New Mexico, steeped in Navajo ways and filled with dark magic.
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